The invention relates to an electric energy storage system, comprising an inverter (6), several associations (21, 22), of an electric energy storage unit (1, 2) in series with a bidirectional chopper (3, 4), connected in parallel to a same input of the inverter (6), on the side of their chopper (3, 4), characterized in that at least one bidirectional chopper (3, 4), associated with an electric energy storage unit (1, 2) that can be charged and discharged asymmetrically, is sized asymmetrically for the charge and discharge of said associated storage unit (1, 2).
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. An electric energy storage system configured to be coupled to an AC network ( 7 ) to store and to restore electric energy, said electric energy storage system comprising: a shared inverter ( 6 ) having an input and several power switches (I), several electric energy storage units ( 1 , 2 ) of different types configured to be charged and discharged asymmetrically, said electric energy storage units ( 1 , 2 ) being respectively associated with a bidirectional chopper ( 3 , 4 ) to form a serial association ( 21 , 22 ) connected in parallel to the same input of the shared inverter ( 6 ), on the side of the chopper ( 3 , 4 ) of each association ( 21 , 22 ), wherein at least one bidirectional chopper ( 3 , 4 ) comprises several power switches of different sizes configured to be used asymmetrically in discharge or charge direction and is sized asymmetrically for the charge and discharge of said associated electric energy storage unit ( 1 , 2 ) such that the power switch of the bidirectional chopper used in the discharge direction has a maximum allowable current different than that of the power switch used in the charge direction, and wherein the power switches (I) of the shared inverter ( 6 ) are sized so that their maximum allowable current is lower than the sum of the maximum allowable power switch current upper bounds respectively of all of the choppers ( 3 , 4 ) connected to said same input of the shared inverter ( 6 ), if applicable increased by the maximum allowable currents of any storage unit(s) not associated with choppers but connected to said same input of the shared inverter ( 6 ).
An electric energy storage system connects to an AC power grid to store and release electricity. It uses a shared inverter with multiple power switches. Several energy storage units, such as batteries or supercapacitors, each capable of charging and discharging asymmetrically, are connected to a bidirectional chopper circuit. These chopper circuits are then connected in parallel to the input of the shared inverter. Critically, at least one of these bidirectional choppers is sized differently for charging and discharging. This means the power switch used for discharging has a different maximum current rating than the one used for charging the associated storage unit. The inverter power switches are sized to handle less current than the combined maximum current capabilities of all connected choppers and any directly connected storage units.
2. The electric energy storage system according to claim 1 , wherein: all of the bidirectional choppers ( 3 , 4 ) respectively associated with the storage units ( 1 , 2 ) configured to be charged and discharged asymmetrically, are sized asymmetrically for the charge and discharge of said associated storage units ( 1 , 2 ).
In the electric energy storage system described above, where the system connects to an AC power grid to store and release electricity using a shared inverter, several asymmetrically chargeable/dischargeable storage units connected to bidirectional choppers which are connected in parallel to the inverter's input, ALL of the bidirectional choppers are sized asymmetrically for charging and discharging. This means that not just one, but every chopper paired with an asymmetrically used storage unit has different current ratings for its charging and discharging power switches.
3. The electric energy storage unit according to claim 2 , wherein: one or more of said asymmetrically-sized bidirectional choppers ( 3 , 4 ) are sized asymmetrically such that their power switch (I) used in the discharge direction has a maximum allowable current greater than that of the power switch (I) used in the charge direction.
In the electric energy storage system with asymmetrical charging/discharging of the energy storage units using bidirectional choppers, where all the bidirectional choppers are sized asymmetrically, one or more of these choppers are designed so the power switch used for discharging has a higher maximum current rating than the power switch used for charging. This prioritizes a higher discharge rate for the associated storage unit.
4. The electric energy storage unit according to claim 2 , wherein: one or more of these asymmetrically-sized bidirectional chopper ( 3 , 4 ) are sized asymmetrically such that the power switch (I) used in the charge direction has a higher maximum allowable current greater than that of the power switch (I) used in the discharge direction.
In the electric energy storage system with asymmetrical charging/discharging of the energy storage units using bidirectional choppers, where all the bidirectional choppers are sized asymmetrically, one or more of these choppers are designed so the power switch used for charging has a higher maximum current rating than the power switch used for discharging. This prioritizes a higher charge rate for the associated storage unit.
5. The electric energy storage system according to claim 1 , wherein: one or more of these asymmetrically-sized bidirectional choppers ( 3 , 4 ) are sized asymmetrically such that the power switch (I) used in the discharge direction has a maximum allowable current higher than that of the power switch (I) used in the charge direction, one or more of these asymmetrically-sized bidirectional choppers ( 3 , 4 ) are sized asymmetrically such that the power switch (I) used in the charge direction has a maximum allowable current higher than that of the power switch (I) used in the discharge direction, the power switches (I) of the inverter ( 6 ) are sized so that their maximum allowable current is at least 10% lower than the sum of the maximum allowable power switch current upper bounds respectively of all of the choppers ( 3 , 4 ) connected to said same input of the inverter ( 6 ), if applicable increased by the maximum allowable currents of any storage unit(s) not associated with choppers but connected to said same inverter input ( 6 ).
This electric energy storage system uses an inverter connected to an AC network. The energy storage units, such as batteries or supercapacitors, are connected through bidirectional choppers asymmetrically. Some choppers are configured for a higher discharge current, while others are configured for a higher charge current. Critically, the inverter's power switches are sized to handle at least 10% LESS current than the total combined maximum current capabilities of all the connected choppers and any storage units directly connected to the inverter input.
6. The electric energy storage system according to claim 3 , wherein said higher maximum allowable current of the power switch (I) of the asymmetrically-sized bidirectional choppers ( 3 , 4 ) is higher by at least a factor of 1½.
This electric energy storage system with asymmetrical charging/discharging of the energy storage units uses bidirectional choppers, and the chopper's discharge power switch has a maximum allowable current at least 1.5 times (50%) higher than the power switch used for charging. This configuration emphasizes a significantly faster discharge capability for the storage unit.
7. The electric energy storage system according to claim 1 , wherein said asymmetrically-sized bidirectional chopper(s) ( 3 , 4 ) each comprise no more than four power switches (I).
This electric energy storage system includes asymmetrically sized bidirectional choppers. Each of these choppers contains no more than four power switches. These power switches control the flow of energy for charging and discharging the associated storage unit, with their asymmetrical sizing optimizing the charge/discharge performance of each storage unit.
8. The electric energy storage system according to claim 7 , wherein said power switches include at least one of power transistors of the IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) type or the GTO (Gate Turn Off thyristor) type or the Thyristor or MOSFET or JFET or BIPOLAR type.
This electric energy storage system features asymmetrically sized bidirectional choppers and each chopper contains power switches, where these power switches are implemented using at least one of the following transistor types: IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor), GTO (Gate Turn Off thyristor), Thyristor, MOSFET, JFET, or Bipolar transistor.
9. The electric energy storage system according to claim 1 , wherein a power of the shared inverter ( 6 ) is comprised between 50 kW and 5 MW.
This electric energy storage system connects to an AC network through a shared inverter, where the shared inverter has a power rating between 50 kW and 5 MW. This inverter converts the DC power from the storage units into AC power for use in the grid and vice versa.
10. The electric energy storage system according to claim 1 , wherein among the electric energy storage units ( 1 , 2 ), there are one or more batteries and one or more supercapacitors.
This electric energy storage system has multiple electric energy storage units, including at least one battery and at least one supercapacitor. These storage units can be charged and discharged asymmetrically and are connected to the shared inverter via bidirectional choppers.
11. The electric energy storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the number of said associations ( 21 , 22 ) is comprised between 2 and 15.
The electric energy storage system includes between 2 and 15 associations of electric energy storage units and bidirectional choppers connected in series. These associations are connected in parallel to the input of the shared inverter, enabling multiple independent energy storage components.
12. The electric energy storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the bidirectional chopper ( 3 , 4 ) is booster chopper(s).
In this electric energy storage system, the bidirectional choppers are boost choppers. Boost choppers increase the voltage from the storage units to a level suitable for the shared inverter, enabling efficient power conversion.
13. The electric energy storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the input voltage of the inverter ( 6 ) is comprised between 300 and 2000 V.
The electric energy storage system's inverter has an input voltage between 300 and 2000 V. This voltage range defines the operating voltage of the DC bus connected to the storage units through the bidirectional choppers.
14. The electric energy storage system according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller ( 14 ) for the inverter ( 6 ) that drives the inverter ( 6 ) and a controller ( 13 ) of the storage units ( 1 , 2 ) that drives the storage units ( 1 , 2 ), the two controllers ( 13 , 14 ) being connected to each other so as to synchronize the two commands with each other or in that it comprises a controller ( 14 ) for the inverter ( 6 ) that drives the inverter ( 6 ) and several controllers ( 11 , 12 ) for the storage units ( 1 , 2 ), respectively, that drive the storage units ( 1 , 2 ), the controller ( 14 ) for the inverter ( 6 ) being connected to the respective controllers ( 11 , 12 ) of the storage units ( 1 , 2 ) so as to synchronize its driving with their respective driving operations.
The electric energy storage system has two possible control schemes. Either: a single controller drives the inverter and another single controller drives all storage units, and these two controllers communicate to synchronize operations. OR: a single controller drives the inverter and individual controllers drive each storage unit separately, and the inverter controller communicates with each storage unit controller for synchronized operation.
15. An electrical facility is also provided comprising an AC electrical network ( 7 ) and an electrical energy storage system according to claim 1 that is connected to said AC electrical network ( 7 ) so as to be able to power said AC electrical network ( 7 ).
An electrical facility includes an AC electrical network and an electric energy storage system (with a shared inverter, multiple energy storage units of different types which can be charged and discharged asymmetrically connected via bidirectional choppers, where at least one bidirectional chopper is sized asymmetrically and the power switches of the shared inverter are sized appropriately) connected to that network. The storage system can supply power to the AC network.
16. The electrical facility according to claim 15 , wherein the electrical facility is an electricity production or distribution facility.
The electrical facility from the previous description, including the AC network and electric energy storage system (with a shared inverter, multiple energy storage units of different types which can be charged and discharged asymmetrically connected via bidirectional choppers, where at least one bidirectional chopper is sized asymmetrically and the power switches of the shared inverter are sized appropriately), is specifically used in either an electricity production or distribution facility.
17. The electrical facility according to claim 15 , wherein one or more solar panels and one or more fuel cells and one or more wind turbines are connected after voltage adaptation, in parallel with the energy storage units ( 1 , 2 ), to said input of the inverter ( 6 ), preferably respectively by means of one or more monodirectional choppers.
The electrical facility from the previous description, including the AC network and electric energy storage system (with a shared inverter, multiple energy storage units of different types which can be charged and discharged asymmetrically connected via bidirectional choppers, where at least one bidirectional chopper is sized asymmetrically and the power switches of the shared inverter are sized appropriately), has solar panels, fuel cells, and/or wind turbines connected, after voltage adaptation, in parallel with the energy storage units to the input of the inverter. Monodirectional choppers are preferably used to connect these alternative energy sources.
18. An electric energy storage system circuit, comprising, successively connected in series: electric energy storage unit ( 1 , 2 ) that can be charged and discharged asymmetrically, a bidirectional chopper ( 3 , 4 ) comprising several power switches of different sizes configured to be used in discharge or charge direction, and an oversized inverter ( 6 ) relative to the bidirectional chopper ( 3 , 4 ) having several power switches (I) and a common input configured to be shared with other choppers, wherein the bidirectional chopper ( 3 , 4 ) is sized asymmetrically for the charge and discharge of the storage unit ( 1 , 2 ) such that the power switch of the bidirectional chopper used in the discharge direction has a maximum allowable current different than that of the power switch used in the charge direction, and wherein the power switches (I) of the oversized inverter ( 6 ) are sized so that their maximum allowable current is lower than the sum of the maximum allowable power switch current upper bounds respectively of all of the choppers ( 3 , 4 ) connected to said same input of the oversized inverter ( 6 ), if applicable increased by the maximum allowable currents of any storage unit(s) not associated with choppers but connected to said same input of the oversized inverter ( 6 ).
An electric energy storage system circuit consists of an electric energy storage unit, which can be charged and discharged asymmetrically, connected in series with a bidirectional chopper (containing power switches with different sizes for charge and discharge) and an oversized inverter. The inverter is oversized compared to the chopper. The inverter has multiple power switches and a common input shared with other choppers. The chopper is sized asymmetrically for charging and discharging the storage unit. The inverter's power switches have a maximum allowable current lower than the sum of the maximum currents of all the choppers connected to its input and any storage units directly connected without choppers.
19. The electric energy storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the power switches (I) of the inverter ( 6 ) are sized so that their maximum allowable current is at least 10% lower.
In the electric energy storage system (with a shared inverter, multiple energy storage units of different types which can be charged and discharged asymmetrically connected via bidirectional choppers, where at least one bidirectional chopper is sized asymmetrically), the power switches of the inverter are sized so that their maximum allowable current is at least 10% lower than the sum of the maximum currents of all connected choppers and any storage units directly connected to the inverter input.
20. The electric energy storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the power switches (I) of the inverter ( 6 ) are sized so that their maximum allowable current is at least 20% lower.
In the electric energy storage system (with a shared inverter, multiple energy storage units of different types which can be charged and discharged asymmetrically connected via bidirectional choppers, where at least one bidirectional chopper is sized asymmetrically), the power switches of the inverter are sized so that their maximum allowable current is at least 20% lower than the sum of the maximum currents of all connected choppers and any storage units directly connected to the inverter input.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
April 26, 2013
September 12, 2017
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.